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Inside this Issue:• Director's Corner 2• Drought 3• Stage 2 D/DBP Reminder 3• Mystery MORs 4• Free Technical Assistance 4• New DWP Staff 5• Enforcement Corner 5• Water Operator News 6• Clorox Products 7• You Ask, We Answer 7

The Maine Drinking Water Program Newsletter

Service Connection

Summer 2013 Volume 21, Issue 2

"Working Together for Safe Drinking Water"

MANAGING THE WATER’S EDGE:The Saco River Corridor Commission’s Role in Protecting Drinking Water

Andy Tolman, Assistant Director (Story & background credit: Dennis Finn, Saco River Corridor Commission)

Maine is fortunate to have an abundance of water resources, including about 6,000 lakes covering 1 million acres. Major river systems are used for hydropower and, historically, for log driving and paper making. Several waves of waterfront recreational subdivision for camps and second homes threaten both water quality and aesthetics of these water bodies. The Saco River is a major recreation draw for canoeing, camping, and its lakes are attractive for development. The river also has historic hydropower and industrial development, and is the source of drinking water for Biddeford, Saco and neighboring towns.

The Saco River Corridor Commission (Commission) is funded, in part, by water systems that withdraw directly or indirectly from the Saco and its tributaries. The Commission serves as a land use agency in 20 towns within a 500 foot corridor along the River with its members appointed by the towns and also providing funding. The Commission conducts extensive monitoring and reporting throughout the watershed, as well as education and outreach through conservation groups and schools.

The Commission has developed a regulatory philosophy, which includes working through education whenever possible, using connections to schools and towns, and the results of its ongoing and extensive monitoring. It also works with local planners, the Soil and Water Conservation District, and conservation groups to avoid land use confl icts in the 500 foot corridor. Actual regulation and enforcement are utilized as a third tier when education and planning need support to maintain water quality.

Monitoring is important, and requires more resources than the

Continued on page 6

Maine law requires that all water well pump installations, replacements, alterations or repairs be performed by a licensed pump installer or a licensed Master Plumber.

From 32 M.R.S. §4700-J Licensure; well drillers and pump installers:

"Effective January 1, 1994, a person may not engage in the business of constructing water wells within the State or engage in the installation, replacement or repair of a pump in a water well unless licensed with the commission..." and; "A person licensed under chapter 49 as a master plumber is not required to be licensed with the commission to perform the work of a pump installer."

Many licensed well drillers are also licensed to install pumps. There is no exclusion for public water system operators, including employees of water districts or departments. Please remember to use only appropriately licensed individuals and companies when you need a pump installed, replaced or repaired. For more information please refer to the Maine Well Drillers and Pump Installers Rules, 144 CMR 232.

Who Can Change a Well Pump?David Braley, Certifi ed Geologist

Service Connection

Service ConnectionThe Maine Drinking Water Program Newsletter

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, or national origin, in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities, or its hiring or employment practices. This notice is provided as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Maine Human Rights Act. Questions, concerns, complaints, or requests for additional information regarding the ADA may be forwarded to DHHS’s ADA Compliance/EEO Coordinator, State House Station #11, Augusta, Maine 04333, (207) 287-4289 (V), 711 (Maine Relay) (TTY). Individuals who need auxiliary aids for effective communication in program and services of DHHS are invited to make their needs and preferences known to the ADA Compliance/EEO Coordinator. This notice is available in alternate formats.

Published by the Drinking Water Program to provide technical and regulatory information on drinking water issues. Articles may be reprinted without restriction if credit is given to their source. To be added to the mailing or email list, contact:

Erika J. Bonenfant, EditorDrinking Water Program

Division of Environmental HealthMaine Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Department of Health and Human Services11 State House Station, 286 Water Street, 3rd Floor

Augusta, Maine 04333-0011TEL: (207) 287-5681 TTY users: Dial 711 (Maine Relay)

FAX: (207) 287-4172E-mail: [email protected]

Web Address: http://www.medwp.com

2 Keep Your Drinking Water Safe: Protect Your Source Take

Director's CornerCollaboration

Collaboration is defi ned as the “act of working together with one or more people in order to achieve something.”1 Collaboration may be achieved on a small scale with only two participants or on a very large scale with numerous partners holding diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Each contributor participating in a collaborative effort must feel connected to one or more of the goals of the collaboration, in order for a successful result. The question of “what’s in it for me?” must be answered for each participant, before the full synergy of the group is realized. Each participant must envision how they, or their organization, will benefi t, before they are willing to commit their limited resources to the project.

Collaboration is often needed when we are dealing with source water protection efforts. For most public water systems, it is diffi cult, or even impossible, to own or control all the land within their source water protection area. Therefore, collaboration with land owners, municipal offi cials, conservation and environmental groups, regulatory agencies, and others becomes essential to reaching long-term source water protection goals.

In most, if not all, successful collaborative efforts, there must be one or more individuals who champions the effort and is willing to go to great lengths to help the other players see the benefi ts of participation. These “champions” must excel at effective communication, including listening and persuasion. The champion must be patient and willing to accept setbacks while maintaining a vision of future.

For the past 14 years at the Drinking Water Program, Andy Tolman has been such a champion of many collaborative efforts. From working with municipal offi cials, federal and state agencies, land trusts and other conservation groups, various conservation and wildlife organizations, Andy always remained committed to the goal of protecting Maine’s drinking water.

Andy has announced that he will be retiring in August 2013 from the Drinking Water Program. Having established a legacy of collaboration with many diverse groups, Andy knows how to patiently wait for the right opportunities, while continually maintaining relationships which will yield fruit in the future.

Although much remains to be achieved, the protection of drinking water in Maine has signifi cantly improved because of Andy’s diligence and vision. Andy has set a great example of how to collaborate and work together for safe drinking water. Although Andy will surely not completely disappear from the source water protection world, please take a moment to express your appreciation and well wishes to Andy, as he moves to a different stage in his life.

Yours for safe drinking water,

Roger 1. Encarta Dictionary


e Your Samples Maintain Your Treatment Inspect Your Pipes & Tanks

Droughts do not happen overnight. We can see them coming months before restrictions are set in place. Determining who receives priority with water usage during drought is diffi cult and fraught with emotion at every level. Public Water Systems perform an excellent job at looking at the larger picture. We need water for fi re suppression, drinking water, and sanitary needs. Preserving those key

functions is the priority. Water is also needed for businesses, industrial cooling, environmental needs, and tourism. It might be nice to see fountains, green grass, and to be able to water our gardens and continue to recreate on waterways the way we do in summer, but it is important to identify the priorities for water use fi rst.

Your water source, whether it is a reservoir, lake, river or underground aquifer, may be experiencing chronic insuffi cient recharging from months of low precipitation and snow melt. Now, summer and demands of seasonal use is very high, and it is the time to think about monitoring, tracking, and measuring water use to determine priorities. Public education in times of drought prove tremendously successful with gaining voluntary compliance, should water restrictions be needed.

Droughts levels are monitored and updated every Thursday morning by the US Drought Monitor http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_state.htm?ME,NE

The Drinking Water Program has a guidance document to help get started with drought planning; http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/water/documents/Drought-Contingency-Guidance.pdf

Are You Thinking About Drought?

Stage 2 Disinfectants/Disinfection By-products Rule Monitoring Plan Deadline Approaching

Jennifer Grant, Compliance Offi cer

All non-transient, non-community and community public water systems adding a chemical disinfectant or purchasing chemically disinfected water must test for disinfection by-products under the Stage 2 Disinfectants/Disinfection By-products (D/DBP) Rule. Stage 2 compliance monitoring begins the 4th quarter of 2013 for most systems serving 49,999 or less (with the exception of unfi ltered systems serving less than 10,000) and a revised Stage 2 D/DBPR Monitoring Plan may be required, if you will be sampling in different locations than you did under Stage 1.

If your system serves more than 3,300, you are required to submit a copy of your revised Stage 2 D/DBP Monitoring Plan to the DWP by October 1, 2013. Systems that completed an Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE) have already complied with this requirement, but any systems that received a 40/30 waiver and have selected new or additional monitoring locations for Stage 2 should submit their revised Stage 2 D/DBPR Monitoring plan to the DWP. In July 2013, you will be receiving a reminder letter specifi c to your system’s requirements to comply with this new rule. Please contact your compliance offi cer with any questions.

Reminder...When sending water samples to out-of-state laboratories, please

be sure to include your PWSID# on the paperwork submitted with the water sample.

Jennifer Donnell, Security & Fluoridation Specialist

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Need Technical Assistance?The Drinking Water Program works with the Maine Rural Water Association (MRWA) to provide small water systems with FREE on-site technical assistance by two Water Quality Specialists. These Water Quality Specialists can help with reviewing the operation of a treatment process, collecting samples, answering your questions on regulations, fi lling out reports or fi nding a leak.

Water systems can call MRWA directly for assistance or be referred by the Drinking Water Program for a visit. Additionally, MRWA has other technical assistance providers that work specifi cally with municipal water systems for assistance with treatment issues, regulatory compliance assistance, leak detection and line location and are able to provide assistance in the creation of Emergency Response Plans and Vulnerability Assessments.

If you want assistance on a water quality problem or compliance question there is help available by contacting your Drinking Water Program compliance offi cer or fi eld inspector at 287-2070, or MRWA at 737-4092.

Service Connection

Keep Your Drinking Water Safe: Protect Your Source Take 4

Mystery Monthly Operating ReportsWater Systems that add a chemical to their water are required to fi le a Monthly Operating Report (MOR). MORs must be submitted by the 10th day of the following month. In any given month, the DWP receives hundreds of MORs by mail.

The DWP often receives MORs in the mail with pertinent information missing. No system name, no PWSID #, no month, and, often times, an operator’s name that is indecipherable. Without proper identifi cation, this offi ce cannot credit the water system with submitting the MOR.

Before you send in a MOR, take one last look at the report: Is it fi lled out completely and properly? Can you identify the system? Can you identify the month?

If you have any questions about fi lling out or submitting MORs, contact your compliance offi cer. Make sure your MOR is fi lled out completely and

legibly to avoid becoming a "Mystery MOR".

"Lead Free" Reminder:

All plumbing fi xtures installed after January 4, 2014 must be lead free. This summer, keep track of your inventory and assure that

new purchases and incoming stock is compliant and your staff is aware of this new law.

For more information, EPA has developed a "Draft Frequently Asked Questions concerning the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act" document which can be found by going to: http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/upload/epa815p13xxx.pdf


Your Samples Maintain Your Treatment Inspect Your Pipes & Tanks

Enforcement Corner

The paperwork that arrives on your doorstep from the Maine Drinking Water Program may, at times, seem overwhelming…. The weight may feel even heavier when a letter arrives, informing you and your public system that something is wrong and you need to correct the problem or violation.

During this particular time of year, many summer seasonal public water systems open to a busy season. If you are managing or owning or operating a summer restaurant or campground, it may be tempting to set your mail aside and deal with it another, quieter time. However, life rarely grants us those moments, and it is human nature to forget about that mail from 3 weeks ago, when so many other demands are pulling at you.

Some basic tips to avoid the Enforcement Corner:

1. Sample & Report: Promptly and consistently collect all required water samples for analysis at a Maine-certifi ed lab. A key piece of this plan to take steps in assuring that this laboratory reports results to the Drinking Water Program.

2. Be Proactive With Notices of Noncompliance or Defi ciencies: Consistently contact the DWP when you receive a letter that some part of your treatment maintenance, reporting, public notifi cation, operator status

lapses, or other problems arise. Any issues or violations that accrue only lead to more paperwork and hassle in the form of administrative enforcement actions. If further ignored, then it could cost your public water system money. The average penalty assessment levied is $2,500. Should you receive a Notice of Noncompliance, Notice of Defi ciency or Administrative Order, the worst course of action is to think that the issue will disappear if it is ignored.

3. Ask Questions: If you have any questions about an Administrative Consent Order, Administrative Compliance Order/Penalty Assessment, or enforcement letter, please call us. If your public water system serves a transient or non-transient non-community population (i.e. restaurant, campground, daycare facility, business, school), then contact Dawn Abbott at 287-6471. If your public water system serves a residential population, (i.e. a water district, mobile home park or an apartment building), then contact Tera Pare at 287-5680.

Each piece of correspondence should explain what we require, with corresponding deadlines. If you are confused by what is required, do not hesitate to call! It saves both you and us time, if you clearly understand your requirements as a public water system supplier. There are no stupid questions!!!

We're Here to Help Tera Pare, Enforcement and Rulemaking Coordinator

New DWP StaffPamela Bryer

Pam Bryer joins the Drinking Water Program as a new Compliance Offi cer. Pam earned her bachelor’s and master’s in Zoology from UMO and her Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Tech University. Prior to joining the DWP, Pam worked as an air quality

consultant in Pennsylvania and Texas and before that she was a biology professor in Texas. Pam will be handling Compliance Region A (southern Maine) and the Lead and Copper Rule. You can contact Pam at 287-1979 or [email protected].

Darren BrannDarren Brann joins the Drinking Water Program as the new Compliance Offi cer for Region F (western Maine). Prior to coming the DWP, Darren worked as a Chemist at the State Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL). In his 15 years at HETL, Darren has worked in both the Organics and Inorganics sections, and most recently his

primary duties were as a Metals and Anions analyst. Darren was born and raised just outside of Augusta and currently lives in Winthrop with his wife Michelle, and their two sons Noah (5), Leo (10 weeks). Outside of work, Darren enjoys sports, hunting, and fi shing. You can contact Darren at 287-5545 or [email protected].

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Service Connection

Keep Your Drinking Water Safe: Protect Your Source Take Your S6

Water Operator

NewsTeresa Trott, Water Operator

Licensing Offi cer

Summertime is upon us. Operators will be busy with summer services, distribution

upgrades and treatment tweaks to assure safe drinking water. The Water Operator Board welcomed 33 new operators to the profession. Many of these operators have experienced mentors to thank for their success. Here are some reminders for mentors and new operators to continue with success this summer.

Standard Operating Procedures, SOP- write or review – test the SOP to make sure it is easy to follow, includes safety precautions and achieves the proper end result.

Use proper equipment and tools. This summer especially, watch for plumbing components containing more than 0.25% lead, which will not be able to be installed after January 4, 2014. Take inventory of stock items and order only lead free (<0.25% lead).

Monitoring plans – make sure they are up to date. Collect your samples carefully, properly and on time.

Maintain pumps, chlorinators, treatment processes, piping. Watch for leaks, cross-connections and changes in water quality.

Emergency Management Plan review to prepare for storms and power outages

Report chemical use and water quality reports on time.

Training opportunities in the summer are usually infrequent but of very good quality and availability. Check the Professional Training Calendar in the Water Operator Licensing section of the DWP website. To access the Training Calendar, go to www.medwp.com, click on "Licensing" in the left hand navigation pane, then on the "Board of Water System Operators" link, and fi nally on the "Training Page" link in the right hand navigation pane. There is also information on how to use your in-house safety trainings for TCH.

VACANCYThe Board of Licensure of Water System Operators has a vacancy for a CLASS III Operator Representa ve. The Board meets 4 mes per year. For more informa on, or if you are interested in the board posi on, contact Terry Tro at 287-7485.

Managing the Water's Edge... (Continued from Cover)

Commission can provide, so they work with New Hampshire groups to coordinate headwater monitoring, engage students in macroinvertebrate monitoring to assess stream health, providing both education and data. They recruit and retain volunteers to collect data, work with the Nature Conservancy and instrument suppliers to obtain needed tools.

M o n i t o r i n g has identifi ed threats to water quality coming from outside the corridor (high E. coli). Improper manure disposal in a tributary t h r e a t e n e d the health of canoeists on the river. The monitoring data was used to mobilize other resources (Department of Agriculture and the Attorney General) to remove the source and improve operations.

Another example of the Commission’s work was their response to a clear cut within the Corridor. A vacant parcel along the river was illegally clear cut; the activity violated both shoreland zoning and the Commission’s rules. A ‘normal’ response would have been to impose a fi ne; the Commission chose to negotiate with the landowner for restoration, in collaboration with the Soil and Water Conservation District, the Attorney General and the State Forester. The landowner planted 600 white pine seedlings, and undertook immediate erosion control, as well as ongoing maintenance.

The Commission has evolved to be a link between towns in the watershed, as well as a resource for water quality and land management. It provides an example of what may be accomplished by working together for safe drinking water.

Photo by: Saco River Corridor Commission

The Drinking Water Program Newsletter

Samples Maintain Your Treatment Inspect Your Pipes & Tanks

Pay Attention to the Clorox® Products You Use

Clorox® has recently released a new product called Clorox® Concentrated that has a stronger concentration of sodium hypochlorite (the active ingredient to disinfect in bleach). The concentration of sodium hypochlorite in the new Clorox Concentrated product is 8.25%, compared to 5.25% in Clorox® Regular and 6% in

Clorox® Ultra.

It is important that you pay close attention to the labeling of the Clorox bleach products you buy, to ensure that you know whether you are purchasing the new, higher concentrated product for use in your continuous chlorination system.

If you use this new Clorox® Concentrated product in your continuous chlorination disinfection system, you will need to adjust the amount of bleach you use, as less of this new product is needed to achieve the same strength as other Clorox products.

Visit the DWP homepage (www.medwp.com) for a guidance document to help you determine how much of the new Clorox® Concentrated to use in place of Clorox® Regular and in Clorox® Ultra.

You Ask, We Answer: Your FAQs AnsweredQ: How often are sanitary survey inspections completed by the DWP and who completes them?

A: A sanitary survey inspection is completed at “Community” public water systems every three years. Sanitary surveys at “Non-Community” public water systems are completed every fi ve years. Sanitary surveys are completed by a DWP fi eld inspector who will ask the public water system (PWS) administrative contact or their representative to participate in the inspection. For those PWSs that are required to have a licensed operator, the fi eld inspector will also ask the system’s Primary Operator to participate in the sanitary survey inspection.

Q: What happens if I miss a sampling deadline?

A: If you miss a sampling deadline, its important that you call and notify your Compliance Offi cer of the oversight as soon as you become aware of the problem. Collect the missed water test as soon as you can, and issue the required public notice to your customers. Your Compliance Offi cer will help guide you through the process.

Q: Where can I fi nd Monthly Operating Report (MOR) forms?

A: All of the MOR forms are available on the DWP website, by going to www.medwp.com, and clicking on the "Rules and Policies" link in the left hand navigation pane, and then on the "Monthly Operating Reports" link.

The MOR forms are available in either Excel format or Adobe Acrobat (pdf) and can be submitted electronically to the designated e-mail address for MOR submittals: [email protected].

It is important to remember that for those water systems required to have a Designated Operator (DO), the DO must sign every MOR before it is submitted. For those MORs submitted electronically, the MOR is considered signed by the DO if the MOR is submitted directly by the DO through e-mail.

Have any questions you want answered? Send them to [email protected]. Your question might even be featured in a future newsletter! If you don't know, just ask!

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Subsurface Wastewater Team Provides Training

Each year, between February and March, the DWP's Subsurface Wastewater Team (SWT), in association with the Joint Environmental Training and Coordinating Committee (JETCC), presents a series of training workshops for Local Plumbing Inspectors, Site Evaluators, Code Enforcement Offi cers, Certifi ed Septic System Installers, and Certifi ed Septic System Inspectors.

Because JETCC did not receive funding this year, the SWT coordinated the dates and locations, in addition to giving the presentations. In all, 15 very successful training workshops were held throughout Maine. Locations ranged from Fort Fairfi eld to Wells, Rockland to Greenville, and points in between.

The presentations may be viewed on our web site at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/plumb/training.htm#training2013.

Service ConnectionNewsletter of the Maine Drinking Water ProgramMaine CDC286 Water Street, 3rd Floor11 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0011

Dawn Abbott 287-6471 Enforcement Specialist [email protected] Angell 592-2084 State Site Evaluator [email protected] Austin 287-5672 Receptionist [email protected] Bonenfant 287-5681 Education & Outreach Coordinator [email protected] Braley 441-5324 Wellhead Protection Coordinator, SWP [email protected] Brann 287-5545 Compliance Offi cer [email protected] Brochu 592-0954 Field Inspector [email protected] Bryer 287-1979 Compliance Offi cer [email protected] Crouse 287-5684 Drinking Water Program Director [email protected] Donnell 287-5295 Security and Fluoridation Specialist [email protected] Denise Douin 592-2165 Field Inspector & SRF Project Manager [email protected] DuMonthier 592-1674 Field Inspector [email protected] Flanagan 287-5678 Capacity Development & Security Coordinator sara.m.fl [email protected] Frost 287-8411 SDWIS Administrator [email protected] Gardner 287-8403 Compliance and Enforcement Team Leader [email protected] Larry Girvan 592-7386 Field Inspector & SRF Project Manager [email protected] Grant 287-3962 Compliance Offi cer [email protected] Jacobsen 287-5695 Project Manager/Webmaster [email protected] Jamison 287-1929 Laboratory Certifi cation Offi cer [email protected] Lamie 287-2647 Chief Engineer [email protected] Lawson 592-7376 State Plumbing Inspector [email protected] McPherson 287-8412 Data Management [email protected] Moceus 287-8402 Compliance Offi cer [email protected] Nadeau 287-5683 Assistant Information Analyst [email protected] Tera Pare 287-5680 Enforcement & Rulemaking Coordinator [email protected] Parker 557-2255 Field Inspector & SRF Project Manager [email protected] 592-4826 Field Inspector & SRF Project Manager Doris Poirier 287-5699 Operator Certifi cation/ Well Drillers Board Clerk [email protected] Pushard 287-8487 Compliance Offi cer [email protected] Nathan Saunders 287-5685 Field Inspection Team Manager [email protected] Simard 287-8074 Secretary [email protected] Stillings 287-6472 Information Coordinator [email protected] Thompson 287-2070 Receptionist [email protected] Tolman 287-6196 Assistant Director [email protected] Trott 287-7485 Operator Licensing/Environmental Review Coord [email protected] Tufts 215-0624 Field Inspector [email protected] David Welch 287-3056 Data Management Specialist [email protected] Whitney 592-0578 Field Inspector [email protected] Willis 287-5694 Offi ce Clerk [email protected]

(207) 287-2070 • TTY: (800) 606-0215 • Fax: (207) 287-4172 after hours emergency: (207) 557-4214 • visit us on the web: www.medwp.com

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